Redesign of urgent care: equality impact assessment

Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation

X

X

The new Urgent Care pathway will see people of different ages to access urgent care services in a different way from the past, using remote technology which they could create barriers or challenges for older age groups who use technology less than younger age groups. It may also have a positive impact for some age groups as they prefer to access services remotely.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

X

The new Urgent Care pathway provides opportunities to identify people who need access to other service provision and helps to ensure that people receive the care that is best for them which should take account of their age. This should help reduce health inequalities and may advance equality of opportunity by improve health provision to key groups of the Scottish population, for example, frequent users of Emergency Departments.

Older people are however more likely to experience issues with sight and hearing loss, as well as confidence in using digital tools, which may make digitally based consultations less accessible, and could reduce care choice for them.

Promoting good relations among and between different age groups

X

X

Some of the new ways of working may allow the promotion of good relations amongst different age groups. The policy is being co-produced with people from every protected characteristic and this helps build good relationships with key groups.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation

X

X

The new Urgent Care pathway will require everyone to access services in a different way from the past, using remote technology. This could be less accessible to some people with disabilities. However, for some people with disabilities there is a potential benefit in avoiding an unnecessary trip to A&E and increased risk of infection and being signposted to the correct service.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

X

The new ways of working may lead to an advancement of equality for disabled people making it easier for them to access the care they need first time. The new system will reduce travel time, avoid unnecessary exposure to hospital setting and has the potential to reduce distress.

However, we need to ensure the necessary mitigations are built in to ensure equitable access and address support needs.

Promoting good relations among and between disabled and non-disabled people

X

X

The policy is being co-produced with people with one or more of the protected characteristics. This presents an opportunity to build good relationships through the engagement process. However, clear and accessible route to care will need to be available if benefits are to be realised in the longer term.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

X

Women are more likely to be caring for children and to be lone parents (and therefore also in a SIMD group more likely to access A&E). A new system would need to ensure clear access routes to care and support. However, for both men or women there is a potential benefit in avoiding an unnecessary trip to A&E and increased risk of infection and being signposted to the correct service.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

X

The new system allows for scheduling of urgent care appointments which will be helpful for women and men with child caring responsibilities to allow them to schedule to a time which fits.

Promoting good relations between men and women

X

X

The policy is being co-produced with people across the range of protected characteristics and this helps build good relationships with key groups. However, clear and safe access routes to care will be essential if equality of opportunity is to be realised by the new system.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

X

Potential benefit in pregnant women avoiding an unnecessary trip to A&E which can be a stressful environment and poses a risk of infection.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

Some of the new ways of working should have a positive impact on pregnancy/maternity and advance equality for this group of the population by offering choice.

Promoting good relations

X

The policy is being co-produced with people from every key characteristic and this helps build good relationships with key groups.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

Further evidence is required to assess the impact on those people who have undergone gender reassignment.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

Further evidence is required to assess the impact on those people who have undergone gender reassignment.

Promoting good relations

X

The policy is being co-produced with people from a range of protected characteristics. Engagement with stakeholders representing transgender will be part of our strategy to building good relationships with trans people.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

X

Further evidence is required to assess the impact of the programme due to a person's sexual orientation.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

Further evidence is required to assess the impact of the programme due to a person's sexual orientation.

Promoting good relations

X

The policy is being co-produced with people from a range of protected characteristics and this helps build good relationships with key groups.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

X

Further evidence is required to assess the impact of the programme due to a person's race.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

Further work is required to assess digital exclusion within the minority ethnic population.

Promoting good race relations

X

The policy is being co-produced with people from a range of protected characteristic and this helps build good relationships with key groups.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

Further evidence is required to assess the impact of the programme due to a person's religion or belief.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

The new way of working may advance equality of opportunity for people because of their religion or belief by ensuring their needs are better met compared to the current way of working.

Promoting good relations

X

The policy is being co-produced with people from a range of protected characteristic and this helps build good relationships with key groups.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

This policy does not impact on marriage or civil partnerships.